College Basketball Polls
Both polls are out. Michigan is still 20 in the AP and dropped one to 19 in the coaches. We didn't really play anyone so its not a big surprise. We're sitting in a holding pattern until B1G season.
Both polls have 1.Cuse 2.Ohio 3. Kentucky 4. Louisville
Conference basketball is shaping up to be interesting as Ohio (2,2), Wisky(13,14), Indiana(17,18), MSU(19,20), and Illinois(25,24) are all ranked with Northwestern receiving some votes also. B1G looks very strong this year. It'd be really crazy if Minnesota and Purdue hadn't dropped off.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings
December 19th, 2011 at 3:45 PM ^
B1G looks very strong this year. It'd be really crazy if Minnesota and Purdue hadn't dropped off.
I agree. We're really going to have to clean up these turnovers in the next few weeks
December 19th, 2011 at 3:55 PM ^
really don't care that we dropped in one poll and stayed the same in the other. If we beat Big Ten competition, we'll go up, and Virginia's 24th.
December 19th, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
Only if we can get the B1G football rep to match the B1G basketball rep...
December 19th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
#20 should be a 5-6 seed, which sounds about right
December 19th, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
I can't wait to see these go up and down once the B1G starts playing the B1G. Hopefully, we can maintain a decent seeding.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
...in conference play. Smot has been playing well, Morgan will continue to develop and Trey Burke and Timmay are gonna be hard to contain night-after-night. I feel like we can be right there with OSU and Wisky at the end of the year.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:32 PM ^
this team (which can play really well at times) has regular breakdowns. I don't see the kind of consistency that cinches most every tight game.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
I agree with the body of work so far we're 5th best in the big ten. Illinois seems worse than us though. We'd move up a lot by beating Indiana and Wisconsin.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^
Seth Davis doesn't have us in his Top 25 or as a team on the cusp. I do not understand.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:26 PM ^
but I can sort of understand it. Our big win isn't looking so hot right now (Josh Pastner, you are not a good basketball coach), and no one knows how bad the UVA loss is yet. Not having them even on the cusp seems bad given the talent on the roster, their results so far, and how well Trey Burke has played, but I can at least see the argument that we don't have a top 25 resume right now.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
Close-ish loss to Duke on neutral court, loss to UVA (a better-than-expected team) on the road. Those will probably both be "good" losses later this year. We've taken care of business otherwise, including decent wins against Iowa St (should been a blowout), Oakland and Memphis. I don't think our resume is worse than Northern Iowa's or SDSU's...
Regardless, we won't make a move in the real polls until we play at Indiana on Jan 5...
December 19th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
He's a Duke boy. I expect no less.
December 19th, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^
dropping in (or even out of) the ranking while the team continues to win non-conference games is not a problem. If anything, it will motivate (chip on the shoulder) the team to play better (which hopefully means lowering the turnovers per game).
I think Michigan has a good (to great roster) that will be difficult to stop. If Evan can produce consistently and our big-man tandem can heal up, I like our chances to finish #2 or #3 in the big ten (this assumes Sullinger's health holds up) behind Ohio and/or Wisconsin.
Michigan does need to also get better defensively for conference play. This year, finishing .500 in the league should make any team an NCAA tournament team. In post-season tournaments, I like Coach Beilein's preparation too. Should be a really fun and interesting season.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
Get Trey the experience by going deep in B1G and NCAA tourneys, keep THJR and next year the sky is the limit.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
Indiana @ MSU on December 28 should be a great game. Indy hasn't had a real road test yet. MSU has been very inconsistent IMO. Battle of the preseason underrated B1G teams for legitimacy.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
Also, Indiana then plays OSU followed by us. Pretty tough draw to start out the conference season. It wouldn't be shocking for them to drop two and be unranked based on where they are now(unfairly low IMO).
December 19th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
In RealtimeRPI's rankings, we've plummeted down to 45 (with a double down arrow, suggesting we took a major RPI hit in the last week). Were those SWAC teams that bad?
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html
December 19th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
We also gave up large leads in the second half so the games looked closer even though they were in hand early. Something to consider. Our bench players need to step up. I think our last game was a step in that direction, although the turnovers are still scary.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
Does RPI take margin of victory into account? I thought it was just the outcome that mattered.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
Yeah if it's just RPI, then it is just winning percentage and SOS. In that case, yes the SWAC really is that bad. Worst conference in basketball.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
Short answer is no margin does not matter.
Winning percentage and winning percentage of 2nd and 3rd degree teams plus SOS is what matters.
Please go to this Wikipedia link for a full explanation.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
The Big 12....derp.....10 is overrated in football but underrated in basketball IMO. There is no easy win outside of Penn State.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
after we lost to Oral Roberts...ugh. I know we missed 3 out of 5 starters with suspensions but seriously? Would like to see Beilein and Co. move up in the AP.
December 19th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
are nice and give espn and other talking heads something to discuss and a reason to have a job, but as long as Michigan qualifies for the big dance, that is all that matters.
December 19th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
I sort of disagree. We're reaching the point that we have to earn a solid seed to compete in the Sweet Sixteen. Our expectations have to start returning to a high level after a long fallow period.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
The RPI will improve with Big Ten play.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^
Nice to see the team ranked. With that said, I wouldn't put too much credence in polls that reflect the non conference slate. Some teams like MSU have played a representative schedule others like Indiana (outside if the Kentucky game) played no one. I think the polls pick up meaning in mid January once a few conference games have been played.